scholarly journals Improving access to multilingual health information for newcomers to Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Gallo Stampino
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Immigrant And Refugee

Canada's immigrant and refugee population is a vulnerable group in our health care system with specific information needs. Newcomers to Canada face certain socioeconomic, cultural–linguistic, and systemic barriers to access to health care that government, social agencies, and health care organizations work to overcome. To address some of the communication barriers, many health organizations develop information resources such as online brochures and education handouts. Several organizations offer specifically tailored multilingual publications to meet newcomers' information needs and write them using cross-cultural approaches. However, multilingual health information may be hard to locate and is not readily available through major Canadian consumer Web sites. This article discusses the advantages of sharing multilingual publications online and asks whether a central portal or repository is a possible solution for making publications more widely available across Canada.

What does 'access to health care' mean?

2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Gulliford ◽  
Jose Figueroa-Munoz ◽  
Myfanwy Morgan ◽  
David Hughes ◽  
Barry Gibson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Equity Of Access ◽  
Diverse Groups ◽  
Physical Accessibility ◽  
Gain Access

Facilitating access is concerned with helping people to command appropriate health care resources in order to preserve or improve their health. Access is a complex concept and at least four aspects require evaluation. If services are available and there is an adequate supply of services, then the opportunity to obtain health care exists, and a population may 'have access' to services. The extent to which a population 'gains access' also depends on financial, organisational and social or cultural barriers that limit the utilisation of services. Thus access measured in terms of utilisation is dependent on the affordability, physical accessibility and acceptability of services and not merely adequacy of supply. Services available must be relevant and effective if the population is to 'gain access to satisfactory health outcomes'. The availability of services, and barriers to access, have to be considered in the context of the differing perspectives, health needs and material and cultural settings of diverse groups in society. Equity of access may be measured in terms of the availability, utilisation or outcomes of services. Both horizontal and vertical dimensions of equity require consideration.

scholarly journals Digital Health and Inequalities in Access to Health Services in Bangladesh: Mixed Methods Study

10.2196/16473 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e16473
Author(s):  
Tanvir Ahmed ◽  
Syed Jafar Raza Rizvi ◽  
Sabrina Rasheed ◽  
Mohammad Iqbal ◽  
Abbas Bhuiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Technical Skill ◽  
Integrating Technology ◽  
Access To Health

Background Globally, the rapid growth of technology and its use as a development solution has generated much interest in digital health. In line with global trends, Bangladesh is also integrating technology into its health system to address disparities. Strong political endorsement and uptake of digital platforms by the government has influenced the rapid proliferation of such initiatives in the country. This paper aims to examine the implications of digital health on access to health care in Bangladesh, considering who uses electronic devices to access health information and services and why. Objective This study aims to understand how access to health care and related information through electronic means (digital health) is affected by sociodemographic determinants (ie, age, gender, education, socioeconomic status, and personal and household ownership of mobile phones) in a semiurban community in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 854 households (between October 2013 and February 2014) and 20 focus group discussions (between February 2017 and March 2017) were conducted to understand (1) who owns electronic devices; (2) who, among the owners, uses these to access health information and services and why; (3) the awareness of electronic sources of health information; and (4) the role of intermediaries (family members or peers who helped to look for health information using electronic devices). Results A total of 90.3% (771/854) of households (471/854, 55.2% of respondents) owned electronic devices, mostly mobile phones. Among these, 7.2% (34/471) used them to access health information or services. Middle-aged (35-54 years), female, less (or not) educated, and poorer people used these devices the least (α=.05, α is the level of significance). The lack of awareness, discomfort, differences with regular care-seeking habits, lack of understanding and skills, and proximity to a health facility were the main reasons for not using devices to access digital health. Conclusions Although influenced by sociodemographic traits, access to digital health is not merely related to device ownership and technical skill. Rather, it is a combination of general health literacy, phone ownership, material resources, and technical skill as well as social recognition of health needs and inequity. This study’s findings should serve as a basis for better integrating technology within the health system and ensuring equitable access to health care.

scholarly journals Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Health Care Services among Married Women in Ethiopia: a Multi-level Analysis of the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-196
Author(s):  
Betregiorgis Zegeye ◽  
Nicholas Kofi Adjei ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Edward Kwabena Ameyaw ◽  
Eugene Budu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Married Women ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
The Individual

Background and Objective: Access to health care services is a major challenge to women and children in many developing countries such as Ethiopia. In this study, we investigated the individual- and community-level factors associated with barriers to accessing health care services among married women in Ethiopia. Methods: Data from the 2016 Ethiopia demographic and health survey on 9,824 married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) were analyzed. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to assess individual- and community-level factors associated with barriers to access health care services. Regression analysis results revealed adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals. Results: Over two-thirds (71.8%) of married women in Ethiopia reported barriers to accessing health care services. Some of the individual-level factors that were associated with lower odds of reporting barriers to access health care services include: having secondary education (aOR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.32-0.77), being in the richest quintile (aOR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.22-0.54), and indicating wife-beating as unjustified (aOR=0.66, 95% CI:0.55-0.81). Among the community-level factors, high community-level literacy (aOR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.34-0.92) and moderate community socioeconomic status (aOR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.45-0.85) were significantly associated with lower odds of reporting barriers to access health care services. Conclusion and Implications for Translation: The findings revealed high barriers to access health care services, and both individual- and community-level factors were significant contributing predictors. Therefore, it is important to consider multidimensional strategies and interventions to facilitate access to health care services in Ethiopia.   Copyright © Zegeye et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.

Primary Health Care with Immigrant and Refugee Populations: Issues and Challenges

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Nerad ◽  
Axelle Janczur
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Multicultural Community ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Immigrant And Refugee

Ontario's community health centres (CHCs) are leaders in providing community based health care programs and services. One of the primary objectives of the CHC program is to promote access to health care for populations that have traditionally experienced barriers for reasons such as language, culture and age, or for populations that are at high risk for illness such as persons living in poverty or those who are homeless. Funded by the provincial Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Access Alliance Multicultural Community Health Centre is located in downtown Toronto, and is mandated to work specifically with immigrants and refugees to promote health and better access to health care. This paper describes the complexity of issues facing newcomers, the Centre's programs and services, as well as the organisation's struggle to define its role and value within the health and social service sector and to newcomer communities.

2-1-1 Toronto: Lessons Learnt About Newcomers’ Access to Health Information

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Cortinois ◽  
Richard Glazier ◽  
Nadia Caidi ◽  
Gavin Andrews ◽  
Mary Herbert-Copley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Soins De Santé ◽  
Phone Survey ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Nouveaux Arrivants

This study examines the importance of access to information as an enabler of access to health care by newcomers to Canada. Specifically, we focus on the role played by the 2-1-1 Toronto service through a 2005 phone survey and face-to-face qualitative interviews with 2-1-1 Toronto callers in 2006-2007.Cette étude examine l’importance de l’accès à l’information comme moteur de l’accès aux soins de santé par les nouveaux arrivants au Canada. Plus précisément, nous nous attardons sur le rôle que joue le service 2-1-1 Toronto au moyen d’entrevues téléphoniques effectuées en 2005 et d’entrevues qualitatives en personne avec des appelants du service 2-1-1 Toronto en 2006-2007.

Access to health care services – an English policy perspective

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIA GODDARD
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Policy Perspective ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Sociological Literature ◽  
Equity Of Access ◽  
Improve Access

Abstract:The English government has given a commitment to improving access to health care services for particular groups perceived as being under-served, or served inappropriately, by existing services. In this article four examples of policies aimed at improving access are considered: enhancing the supply of services to under-served areas, changing the organization of services, setting targets to improve access, and empowering people to make choices. Policies aimed at improving access will work only if they address the source of inequities, which means identifying the key barriers to access and these barriers are unlikely to be uniform across sectors, services, and groups of people. Evidence on the success of these four types of intervention in terms of influencing access and equity of access is discussed, borrowing some concepts from the sociological literature that enable us to understand the importance of how barriers to access may arise for different services and different population groups. It is clear that some policies may not work as well as we would hope, or may even exacerbate inequities of access, because they fail to recognize the source of the particular barriers faced by some groups.

scholarly journals Indigenous Mothers’ Use of Web- and App-Based Information Sources to Support Healthy Parenting and Infant Health in Canada: Interpretive Description

10.2196/16145 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e16145
Author(s):  
Amy Lynn Wright ◽  
Rachel VanEvery ◽  
Vicky Miller
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Interpretive Description ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Sources Of Health Information

Background Web-based sources of health information are widely used by parents to support healthy parenting and aid in decision making about their infants’ health. Although fraught with challenges such as misinformation, if used appropriately, web-based resources can improve access to health education and promote healthy choices. How Indigenous mothers use web-based information to support their parenting and infants’ health has not yet been investigated; however, web-based modalities may be important methods for mitigating the reduced access to health care and negative health care interactions that many Indigenous people are known to experience. Objective This study aims to understand the experience of Indigenous mothers who use web-based information to support the health of their infants. Methods This interpretive description qualitative study used semistructured interviews and a discussion group to understand how Indigenous mothers living in Hamilton, Ontario and caring for an infant aged <2 years experienced meeting the health needs of their infants. The data presented reflect their experiences of using web-based sources of health information to support their infants’ health. The Two-Eyed Seeing approach was applied to the study design, which ensured that both western and Indigenous worldviews were considered throughout. Results A total of 19 Indigenous mothers participated in this study. The resulting 4 themes included distrusting information, staying anonymous, using visual information to support decision making, and accessing a world of experiences. Although fewer Indigenous mothers used web-based sources of information compared to mothers in the general population in other studies, tailoring web-based modalities to meet the unique needs of Indigenous mothers is an important opportunity for supporting the health and wellness of both mothers and infants. Conclusions Web-based information sources are commonly used among parents, and ever-evolving web-based technologies make this information increasingly available and accessible. Tailoring web-based modalities to meet the unique preferences and needs of Indigenous mothers is an important method for improving their access to reliable and accurate health care information, thereby supporting healthy parenting and promoting infant health.

scholarly journals The Community Analytics Academy Pilot: A Community-Academic Partnership for Building Community Health Care Analytic Capacity

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272093240
Author(s):  
Rhonda BeLue ◽  
Lorinette Wirth ◽  
Amanda Steormer ◽  
Suzanne Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Building Community ◽  
Data Informed ◽  
Analyze Data

The ability to analyze data to identify best practices is key to improving quality of care for community-based health care organizations (CBOs). Leading commercial statistical software remains too costly for many CBOs operating in underserved communities. The St Louis Integrated Health Network (IHN) collaborates with CBOs to increase access to health care. IHN and a local university developed the Community Analytics Academy (CAA), a training collaborative designed to meet the need for data-informed decision making among CBOs. Establishing analytics training collaboratives for CBOs empowers organizations to respond to the ever-growing amounts of health care data and the need for data-driven decision making.

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